Wednesday, October 25, 2006
LAWSUIT SETTLED: Again, Blanco drew a Blank!
ADVOCATE
BY MICHELLE MILLHOLLON
(excerpt)
Gov. Kathleen Blanco agreed Tuesday to settle a lawsuit over offshore drilling despite uncertainty that the state will get a share of the billions the federal government makes off Louisiana’s coast.
The settlement requires the federal government to study the environmental impact of oil and gas exploration on the state’s deteriorating coast — a study that already was in the works, a federal official said.
The agreement also does not guarantee that Congress will invest in coastal restoration, an issue that prompted the legal battle over offshore drilling.
LPNS COMMENTARY: If you read the spin from the Governor's office you would think that Blanco had some great victory here.
But if you look at the facts: The lawsuit was about money. She settled it with the feds without getting a dime for Louisiana.
Basically the feds agreed that they would postpone a lease sale and do an environmental impact statement in the 5 year plan, which they were planning to do anyway!
Again, Blanco drew a Blank!
OF NOTE: NO STORY MENTIONED HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS WERE PAID LAWYERS AND CONSULTANTS TO GO THROUGH THIS WASTED EXERCISE. NO STORY MENTIONED HOW MUCH MONEY THESE FOLKS GAVE TO THE "BLANCO FOR GOVERNOR" CAMPAIGN.
